When I returned to the bedroom, I found a nightgown of pale blue silk laid out on the bed. I changed, the cool silk a relief after the stiff traveling gown.
Quandary made himself comfortable on a cushioned perch near the window.
This place feels old,he said with a yawn.Like the stones remember things they’re not telling us.
Cheerful thought. I sat at the vanity and brushed out my hair, quickly securing it in a long braid.
Hours passed.
I tried reading one of the books from the sitting room, a dry history of vampire nobility, but I couldn’t get past the first ten pages. I rearranged my personal items on the vanity. I even attempted to craft a joy pendant, but my magic felt sluggish and uncooperative.
Finally, the door opened, and Kieran entered. He’d changed from his formal wedding outfit into a simple black shirt and pants that outlined all his muscles and somehow made him look even more regal. He paused when he saw me perched on the edge of the enormous bed.
“You’re still awake.” He sounded surprised.
“Did you expect me to be asleep?”
“I thought you might be tired.” He closed the door. “I’m sorry about the late hour. Some things couldn’t wait.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. Now that he was here, the reality of our situation hit me hard. We were married. This was our bedroom. This wasourbed.
Kieran seemed to follow my thoughts. “I’ll take one of the sofas in the sitting room. You can have the bed to yourself.”
“The sofas are half your size,” I pointed out before I could stop myself. “That’s ridiculous.”
“I’ve slept in worse places.”
“I’m not kicking you out of your own bed.” Though the thought of sharing it with him made my pulse quicken in a way I refused to think about. “It’s big enough for both of us. We’ll barely know the other is there.”
His eyes met mine, and for a moment, I saw the Kieran I’d known six years ago, the one with warmth in his gaze and a ready smile. Then it was gone, replaced by the cool, distant king I’d married.
“Your boundaries will be respected.” He sounded so formal, so detached. As if the man who’d kissed me with need at the altar had been someone else.
My cheeks burned. “Thank you.”
“I’ll get ready for bed, then.” He retreated to his dressing room.
When he returned, he wore loose sleeping trousers and nothing else. My breath caught at the sight of his bare chest full of taut muscles beneath smooth skin. He looked stronger and broader than he’d been six years ago. I hadn’t seen this much of him back then, of course. Our three days together had been filled with talking and laughing, holding hands and kisses, but nothing more.
He caught me staring and raised an eyebrow. Mortified, I quickly looked away.
Kieran moved to the far side of the massive bed and slid beneath the covers. “Good night, Cyrene.”
“Good night.” I turned off the lamp on my side and climbed under the covers.
Darkness wrapped around us, broken only by moonlight peeking around the heavy curtains. I lay rigid, aware of his presence only a few feet away. His breathing came soft and measured, while mine felt uneven and loud.
Eventually, his breathing deepened, smoothing out to sleep.
I wasn’t far behind.
CHAPTER FIVE
CYRENE
Iwoke during the night to an odd sound. Lying in the dark, I stared around for a moment, wondering where in the world I was. Then I remembered. Marrying Kieran. Discovering he’d known he was marrying me all along. Him stating that my boundaries would be respected.
Making a soft sound, he rolled over to face away from me.
